Girls in the preteen years are at an important transition point: they need strong female role models before they enter the years when they question whether girls can be both intelligent and popular. I've listed here some of my favorite women's history books for this age group. Some are collections of short sketches, perfect for the active or impatient reader.
1. Welcome to ...'s World: American Girl History Series
The worlds of the seven American Girls: what was life like for girls at seven periods of American history? The books are both entertaining and educational. They're full of illustrations, excerpts from primary sources and commentary about ordinary life in such places including colonial America, the Southwest frontier, pioneer-era Minnesota, the Civil War, big-city Victorian America, the Great Depression and the home front during World War Two.2. History Mysteries
American Girl Collection. Each mystery features a heroine in the age range of the target readers. Whether facing the Ku Klux Klan in 1958, a possible spy in 1914 North Carolina, a Yankee deserter in Civil War Virginia, or a possible ghost in a settlement house in 1904 Boston, these girls apply their minds and courage. See Related Picks below for more details.3. Sheroes : Bold, Brash (and Absolutely Unabashed) Women Superheroes
by Varla Ventura. "From Susan B. Anthony to Xena." Lively portraits of 200 women, legendary and real, to inspire young girls while proving that women have been heroes, too.
4. Girls Who Rocked the World
by Michelle Roehm and Amelie Welden. From Sacajawea to Sheryl Swoopes and from Harriet Tubman to Mia Hamm, these real-life strong women make great role models. Both historical and contemporary "girls who rocked the world" are included.5. Women Invent: Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World
by Susan Casey. Curious girls may be happy to know that there have been plenty of women in history who also asked questions and found solutions. Many of the women included are not well-known -- adults will likely find themselves sneaking a peek.6. American Girl Pastimes
Boxed sets. Each set includes a cookbook with recipes and party ideas, a craft book with projects, paper dolls with period fashions, and a theater book with scripts and staging directions. Most sets are paperbacks in a slipcover; Molly's (1944) books are hardcovers accompanied by a CD-ROM.7. 19th Century Girls & Women
by Bobbie Kalman. Girls can learn about the lives of women in the 19th century, from the food they ate to the clothes they wore (and often suffered in).8. Outrageous Women of Ancient Times
by Vicki Leon. Entertaining and often funny sketches about women with attitude who often accomplished much and certainly didn't settle for meek roles. One of a series of books: others cover the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Colonial America. Leon is the author of a series of similar books for adults, Uppity Women.9. Amelia Earhart: Young Aviator
by Beatrice Gormley. This biography focuses on the childhood of Amelia Earhart, bringing to life her willingness to take exciting risks, her idealism, her courage and her charm.10. Lady of Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of the South, Southern China, A.D. 531
by Laurence Yep. Part of "the Royal Diaries" series, this story focuses on a royal princess probably unknown to most people. Ch'iao Kuo shows herself to be a wise leader and a good military strategist at the early age of 16 in this fictional diary.What's your favorite women's history book for young girls?
Do you have some personal favorites among the many books on women's history for young girls? Here's an opportunity to share ideas with others.
